Photographic apparatus and processes



Oct. 15, 1968 E. H. LAND ETAL 3,405,618

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PROCESSES Filed Nov. 26. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTORS M W %M A'IT RNEXSQ Oct. 15, 1968 E. H. LAND ETAL. 3,405,618

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PROCESSES Filed Nov. 26. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORS MMM Maw

ATTORNEYS Oct. 15, 1968 D ETAL 3,405,618

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PROCESSES Filed Nov. 26. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet5 SHUTTER NEGATBVE CONTAINER SHUTTER TIMER SETTING DRWE FEED COVERRELEASE MOTOR g-F MPTQR soLENom SOLENOID 94 POSITIVE FEED SOLENOID 96TIOZ POWER SUPPLY 106 W I24 I28 1 I I04 Q Z {START SWITCH INVENTORS M BYWMWMJ ATTORNEYS Oct. 15, 1968 E. H. LAND ETAL PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS ANDPROCESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 26. 1965 INVEN 0R5 ATTORNEYS Oct.15, 1968 E. H. LAND ET 3,405,618

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PROCESSES Filed Nov. 26. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet5 A TTORNE Y5 BY 7445 9(- M MQIM W (1 CH1 IIl/llI/IIIIIIIIIII/i.

IIII/I/ Q 9 LL United States Patent 3,405,618 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS ANDPROCESSES Edwin H. Land, Cambridge, and Vaito K. Eloranta, Needham,Mass, assignors to Polaroid Corporation,

Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 26, 1965, Ser.No. 509,957

27 Claims. (Cl. 95--13) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Photographicapparatus in the form of a camera, and a process in which aphotosensitive sheet is exposed, is immersed in a body of processingliquid, and is pressed into superposition with a second sheet afterprocessing has advanced to a predetermined extent. The photosensitivesheet is moved into the container until an end sec tion extendstherefrom to one side of a pair of pressure rolls and the second sheetis moved outside of the container toward the pressure rolls so as toengage and move the end section of the photosensitive sheet into thebite of the pressure rolls which are rotated to withdraw thephotosensitive sheet from the processing liquid and superpose the twosheets.

This invention relates to novel photographic apparatus for and methodsof exposing and processing photographic sheet material and particularlyto photographic apparatus for and methods of exposing a succession ofphotosensitive image-recording sheets and treating each exposed sheetwith a liquid in conjunction with a second sheet to produce a transferimage on the second sheet.

Photographic apparatus, such as cameras, and photographic processes ofthe type with which the present invention is concerned generally involvephotoexposure of an area of a photosensitive, image-recording sheet toform an image therein, superposition of the exposed area of theimage-recording sheet with a second sheet and distribution of a liquidprocessing agent in contact with adjacent surfaces of the superposedsheets. While a number of image-forming processes may be effected inthis manner, the processing liquid preferably etfectuates adiffusion-transfer process in which an imagewise distribution ofdiffusible image-forming substances is formed in the exposedimage-recording sheet and transferred by diffusion to the second sheetto form a visible positive image on the second sheet. The apparatus ofthe invention is specially adapted to produce color prints by a processin which a multilayer image-recording sheet is photoexposed to form alatent image, an aqueous alkaline processing liquid is permeated intothe exposed imagerecording sheet to render other reagents, particularlydevelopers, reactive to develop the latent image, immobilize diffusibleimage-forming dyes in exposed areas of the image-recording sheet andtransfer image-forming dyes by diffusion from unexposed areas to animage-(dye) receiving layer on the second sheet to form an image in saidimage-receiving layer. Heretofore it has been the practice withapparatus, particularly cameras, of this type to expose and processsuccessive areas of a single imagerecording sheet and to provide aplurality of film units each including the requisite two sheets coupledwith one another and including, in most cases, a container filled withsufficient processing liquid to process the single film unit. Each filmunit is thus an assemblage of several components including, in additionto the two sheets and container, other elements such as masks, liquidtraps, connecting sheets, leaders and the like, for manipulating the twosheets and aiding in the distribution of the processing liquid.

3,405,618 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 Substantially simpler and lessexpensive processes of this type have been proposed utilizing separate,individual image-recording and image-receiving sheets and methods ofliquid application which do not require the presence of other elementsattached to or associated with the image-recording and image-receivingsheets. Such processes and the present invention are particularlyconcerned with the production of multicolor photographic transfer printsaccording to the process described in US. Patent No. 2,983,606, issuedMay 9, 1961 to Howard G. Rogers, and utilizing integral multilayerimage-recording sheets incorporating dye developers such as aredisclosed in the copending US. application of Edwin H. Land et al., Ser.No. 565,135, filed Feb. 13, 1956. As pointed out in the copending US.patent application Ser. No. 471,665, filed July 13, 1965 in the name ofEdwin H. Land, entitled Photographic Processes, print quality can beimproved and processing time reduced by permeating the liquid processingagent into the photosensitive dye developercontaining layers of theimage-recording sheet to advance development of the exposedphotosensitive material to a predetermined extent prior to pressing theimage-recording sheet into superposition with the image-receiving sheet.This is partially explained by the fact that prior practice has been tospread a layer of viscous processing liquid between the sheets making itnecessary for the liquid to be absorbed from this layer and theimageforming substances to transfer by diffusion through this layer. Themost commonly proposed method of treating photosensitive sheet materialswas liquids which are not viscous and contain no film-forming agents isto immerse the sheets in a container of the liquid. However, suchpractices present a number of problems particularly relating to thehandling and manipulation of a succession of individual sheets, accuratetiming of the various processing operations, the storage of non-viscousliquids subject to spillage etc., and the protection of the liquidprocessing agents against deterioration due, for example, to exposure tothe atmosphere.

An object of the invention is to provide novel and improved photographicapparatus for and methods of exposing a succession of image-recordingsheets and following exposure, processing each exposed image-recordingsheet to produce a transfer print by applying a non-viscous liquidprocessing agent to the exposed image-recording sheet to cause apredetermined quantity of the liquid to be absorbed therein, allowingprocessing (development) of the image-recording sheet to progress to apredetermined extent and then pressing the liquid impregnatedimage-recording sheet into superposition with an image-receiving sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the typedescribed which is simple and compact in construction, substantiallyautomatic and reliable in operation, and exposes and manipulates twoseparate, individual sheets (i.e., a photosensitive image-recordingsheet and an image-receiving sheet) to produce each photographic print.

A further object of the invention is to provide a photographic method ofthe type described for producing photographic prints utilizing twosheets and a non-viscous liquid, capable of being performed in arelatively small compact apparatus such as a hand-held camera andfacilitating variation of the processing and the charter of the printproduced.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing theconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts and theprocess involving the several steps and the relation and order of one ormore of such steps with respect to each of the others, which areexemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional view of photographicapparatus embodying the invention;

' FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, illustrating acomponent of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the image-recording andimage-receiving sheets employed in the apparatus;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views of a portion of the apparatusillustrating two modes of operation thereof;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of the operatingcomponents of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the control and drive system of theapparatus;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating still anotherembodiment of the apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentar sectional view showing the operation of theapparatus of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially in section,illustrating components of the apparatus; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the construction of afilm container useful in the apparatus.

The apparatus of the invention is illustrated in FIG- URE 1 as beingincorporated in a camera which is substantially automatic in itsoperation and, although it is shown as being driven by an electricmotor, can be operated manually. While such a camera is ideally suitedfor incorporation in a photo-identification system, or to be coinoperated to automatically produce photographic prints, it should beapparent that a major portion of the camera shown in FIG. 1 comprisesthe drive and control means and that the basic components of the camera,that is, those which expose the photosensitive sheets and actuallyhandle and manipulate the sheets may be operated by hand or, forexample, by a battery operated drive, and incorporated in a hand-heldcamera, such as disclosed in the copending US. application of Edwin H.Land et al., Ser. No. 509,713 filed Nov. 26, 1965, entitled PhotographicApparatus, Product and Process. Of course, in a camera of this typedesigned to be hand-held and operated, special provision is made forpreventing spillage of the liquid processing agent employed in thecamera and, preferably, for insuring that the camera is properlyoriented during processing.

The camera generally includes a housing having a conventional lens andshutter mechanism 10 mounted in the upper forward portion of the camerahousing. Means are provided in the upper rear portion of the camerahousing for mounting a film pack or cassette 12, shown in detail in FIG.2, containing a plurality of photosensitive imagerecording sheets 14 inposition for exposure to light transmitted by lens and shutter mechanism10. These means include an opening in the rear of the camera housing inwhich the forward portion of cassette 12 is engaged, and a spring 16provided for retaining the cassette in proper position within theopening with the foremost image-recording sheet located substantially ina plane (vertical) and disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the lensof mechanism 10.

Cassette 12 comprises a generally parallelepiped shaped box or container13 open at its front in which is mounted a rectangular pressure plate 18biased toward the front of the box by a leaf spring 20 mounted on therear wall 22 of the box. The container includes side walls and one endwall provided with inwardly projecting flanges 24 for retainingimage-recording sheets 14 within the box between the fianges andpressure plate 18, and cooperating to define a rectangular openingthrough which light is transmitted for'exposing the first or foremost ofthe image-recording sheets disposed in stacked relation within thecassette. The inner or rear faces of flanges 24 are disposedsubstantially in a plane and cooperate with pressure plate 18 to supportthe photosensitive image-recording sheets in a plane during exposurewhile the flanges on the side walls of the box cooperate to guide theimagerecording sheets in a plane during withdrawal movement of eachimage-recording sheet from thecassette.

The apparatus includes means for holding a plurality of generallyrectangular second or image-receiving sheets, designated 26, in stackedrelation with the sheets disposed in planes generally perpendicular tothe planes of imagerecording sheets 14 and below and forwardlyof thestack of image-recording sheets. The image-receiving sheets may beprovided in a cassette similar to the cassette in which theimage-recording sheets are supplied; or,- since they are notphotosensitive, the image-receiving sheets may be held in stackedrelation by means which are part of the apparatus and in the form shown,comprise a generally horizontal support plate 28 on which the stack ofsheets is mounted side plates 34, a backing plate 30 on top of the stackbetween the side plates and extending horizontally beyond the end of thesupport plate and a spring 32 for urging the backing plate toward thesupport plate. Side plates 34 function to hold the stack ofimagereceiving sheets between the support and backing plates and guidethe lowermost image-receiving sheet as it is withdrawn from the stack.

The apparatus includes means providing a processing or liquid treatmentstation in which the image-recording sheets are contacted with theprocessing liquid. This liquid treatment station includes a container 36for holding a liquid processing agent 38 and an image-recording sheet 14immersed, except for the upper end portion thereof, in the processingliquid. Container 36 may comprise a component of the apparatus or aseparate, expendable element which may be discarded when its liquidcontents are depleted. It is generally parallelepiped in shape, isrelatively narrow from front to back, at least equal in width to thewidth of the image-recording sheets, and has a depth slightly less thanthe length of the imagerecording sheets so that when an image-recordingsheet is disposed within the container with the lower edge of the sheetresting on the bottom of the container, the upper end portion of thesheet will project from and above the container. Container 36 has arelatively narrow opening to limit as much as possible the amount ofsurface area of the liquid available to contact with the atmosphere, andit is provided with means for closing the container against theadmission of air when the apparatus is not in use. These last-mentionedmeans, in the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, comprise a lip 40 mounted onthe upper edge of one (the rearmost) wall of the container and extending(forwardly) part way across the opening in the upper portion of thecontainer. Lip 40 is preferably formed of a resiliently deformablematerial, such as rubber, extends from side to side of the container andincludes a sharpened end edge portion which functions as a squeegee forremoving liquid from the rear surface of image-recording sheets 14during withdrawal of the sheets from the container. A cover member 42 ispivotally mounted adjacent the opposite (forward) wall of container 36and extends toward lip 40 so as to overlap the lip in the closedposition of the cover member shown in FIGURE 1. Cover member 42 is alsoformed of a relatively rigid, resiliently deformable material such asrubber and includes a sharpened edge section 44 which overlaps lip 40 toseal the container and functions as a squeegee for removing liquid 38from the forward surfaces of sheets 14 during withdrawal thereof fromthe container between lip 40 and cover member 42. Cover member 42 isengaged at its ends between the end walls of the container and ispivotally mounted on a shaft 46 journaled in the end walls of thecontainer and having a non-cylindrical end Portion extending beyond oneof the end walls of the container which may be engaged (by means to bedescribed more fully hereinafter) for pivoting cover member 42 in acounterclockwise direction (viewing FIGS. 1 and 4) to an open positionto permit introduction of a sheet 14 between the cover member and lip 40into the container.

Means are provided for moving the foremost imagerecording sheet 14following exposure thereof downwardly from cassette 12 into thecontainer and in the form shown, these means comprise a first feed roll48 pivotally mounted forward of and adjacent the lower portion ofcassette 12. Feed roll 48 is shorter thanthe spacing between flanges 24on the side walls of cassette 12 so as to extend between the flangesinto the cassette into contact with the foremost image-recording sheet,and is formed with at least a surface layer of a material such as anelastomer or polymeric foam (e.g., polyurethane), having a relativelyhigh coefficient of friction. The feed roll is basically cylindrical incross section and includes a flat surface portion 50 normally disposedin facing closely adjacent relation (without contacting) the forwardmostimagerecording sheet, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The means for feeding the image-recording sheets downwardly intocontainer 36 includes first and second drive rolls 52 and 54 mounted injuxtaposition with their axes disposed in a generally horizontal planeso that the nip of the rolls is located beneath and in substantialalignment with the plane of downward movement of the forwardmostimage-recording sheet. Rolls 52 and 54 also include at least surfacelayers formed of a material such as an elastomer having a highcoefiicient of friction and during the processing cycle of theapparatus, are rotated continuously so as to feed an image-recordingsheet 14 between rolls 52 and 54 into container 36. At the beginning ofan operating cycle of the appaartus, first feed roll 48 is rotatedthrough a single revolution to bring the cylindrical peripheral surfaceof the feed roll into frictional engagement with the forwardmostimage-recording sheet and advance the lower edge of the sheet downwardlyinto the nip of the first and second drive rolls which then continue thewithdrawal movement of the image-recording sheet from the cassette andmove it into container 36. The circumference of the cylindricalperipheral surf-ace of feed roll 48 is sufficient to advance theimage-recording sheets into the bite of the drive rolls so that at theend of its single revolution, feed roll 48 is located out of contactwith the forwardmost photosensitive sheet 14 and at least the leadingedge of which is engaged between the first and second drive rolls. Thisarrangement obviates the necessity for synchronism between the operationof the feed and drive rolls and permits substantially continuousoperation of the drive rolls, preferred for reasons that will appearhereinafter.

Each exposed image-recording sheet is preferably processed to produce afull color transfer print by impregnating the photosensitive layer ofthe image-recording sheet with a liquid reagent to initiate processingwhich is allowed to progress to a predetermined extent and then pressingthe liquid-impregnated layer of the imagerecording sheet intoface-to-face contact with an imagereceiving sheet to form a sandwhichwhich is retained intact during a processing period of predeterminedduration. Image-recording sheets 14 each include a plurality of layersincluding a support of a conventional film base material such ascellulose acetate and a photosensitive layer comprising a multiplicityof strata containing photosentitive material adapted to be photoexposedto form a latent image, and dye developers for the photosensitivematerial which are rendered reactive by the imhibition of an aqueousalkaline liquid reagent into the strata containing the dye developers.Typical multilayer negatives of this type are disclosed, for example, inFIG. 9 of the aforementioned US. Patent- No. 2,983,606 and,

when employed in the apparatus of the invention, include a layer whichis impervious to actinic light thereby permitting the forwardmost of astack of image-recording sheets to be exposed and the sandwichcomprising the superposed photosensitive and image-receiving sheets tobe advanced into the light during processing. The imagereceiving sheetseach comprise a support preferably of a material which is inert andimpermeable to aqueous alkaline liquids, an opaque layer or material andan image-receiving layer of a material receptive to the aforementioneddye developers, securely adhered to the support. Aqueous alkalineprocessing liquids suitable for imbibition into the multilayerimage-recording sheet to render the reagents, particularly the dyedevelopers, reactive therein, as well as the composition of thereceiving sheets are disclosed in detail in the aforementioned US.Patent No. 2,983,606.

During the processing cycle of the apparatus, an imagerecording sheet isimmersed in liquid 38 in container 36 for a predetermined period duringwhich the liquid is absorbed into the layers containing thephotosensitive material and other reagents including the dye developers,and formation of an imagewise distribution of transferable image-formingsubstances (dyes) is allowed to progress to a predetermined extent,whereupon the imagerecording sheet is withdrawn from the container andimmediately pressed into faoe-to-face contact with an image-receivingsheet. The nature and character of the transfer image produced in theimage-receiving sheet can be controlled by varying the length of theperiod of immersion of the image-recording sheet in liquid 38 and forthis reason the operation of the components of the apparatus whichwithdraw the image-recording sheet from the liquid and press it intocontact with the imagereceiving sheet are made independent of theoperation of first feed roll 48 in order to facilitate varying thelength of this imbibition period.

The means for withdrawing the image-recording sheet from the container36 and pressing it into contact with an image-receiving sheet includingsecond drive roll 54 and a third drive roll 56 mounted for rotationbeneath the second drive roll and biased upwardly into juxtapositionwith the second drive roll by suitable means such as springs 58. Atleast the surface layer of third drive roll 56 is also formed of aresiliently deformable material such as an elastomer, having a highcoefiicient of friction to facilitate and insure gripping andadvancement of the sandwich comprising the two sheets between the secondand third drive rolls. A second feed roll 60, similar to first feed roll48, is provided beneath the stack of image-receiving sheets adjacent theend of support plate 28 between the latter and container 36 foradvancing the lowermost image-receiving sheet from the stack in agenerally horizontal plane across the top of the container toward andinto the nip of second and third drive rolls 54 and 56. Second feed roll60 is similar in construction and operation to the first feed roll inthat it includes at least an outer layer formed of a material having arelatively high coefficient of friction, and a flat surface portionnormally disposed in face-to-face spaced relation with the lowermostimage-receiving sheet. Feed roll 60 is rotated through a singlerevolution in order to feed an imagereceiving sheet into the nip of thesecond and third drive rolls which are rotated continuously throughoutthe processing cycle of the apparatus.

In order to withdraw an image-recording sheet from container 36 andpress it into face-to-face contact with an image-receiving sheet, theleading end portions of the two sheets must be moved into the nip ofrolls 54 and 56 so as to be gripped and advanced by the rolls. This maybe accomplished, as shown in FIG. 5, by advancing the leading endportion of the lowermost image-receiving sheet toward the nip of thesecond and third dr-ive rolls so that the image-receiving sheet deflectsthe upper end portion of the image-recording sheet, from its path ofmovement -until this point, into the nip of the drive rolls causing theend portions of both sheets to be engaged thereby. It is possible, bycareful design of the apparatus and sheets, to properly orient theimage-recording and image-receiving sheets with respect to one anotherwhen they are superposed. However to insure correct orientation of thesuperposed sheets, the form of sheets shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 may bepreferred. In this form, imagerecording sheet 14 includes an endsection, which projects above the container, provided with an opening 62and each image-receiving sheet 26 is provided at its leading end with atongue 64 having a tapered section adapted to enter and become engagedin opening 62 and shoulders 66 which engage the image-recording sheetfor properly locating the sheets with respect to one another. In theoperation of the apparatus with this form of image-recording andimage-receiving sheets, the tongue 64 of each image-receiving sheet isadvanced along a path across the top of the container through opening 62in the upper end portion of the image-recording sheet disposed in thecontainer and into the nip of drive rolls 54 and 56 where the tongue isengaged and advanced until shoulders 66, which are unable to passthrough opening 62 engage the image-recording sheet at the edges of theopening and draw the image-recording sheet into the nip of the rolls.Opening 62 may be generally triangular in shape to facilitate entry oftongue 64 which is tapered for this purpose and for the purpose ofproperly orienting the two sheets with respect to one another.Advancement of the imagerecording sheet into and from the container areat substantially rapid rates such that the time required is smallcompared with the period of immersion in the liquid so that,effectively, all portions of the image recording sheets are immersed forthe same time and absorb equal amounts of the liquid.

The housing of the apparatus includes a chamber, generally designated68, into which the sandwich comprising the superposed image-recordingand image-receiving sheets are advanced by rolls 54 and 56, and a door70 that may be opened in order to remove the processed sandwich fromchamber 68. Chamber 68 and door 70 are not essential features, since thesheets comprising the sandwich are opaque to actinic light and permitthe sandwich to be advanced directly into the light; but are desirableto insure exclusion of light from the apparatus and because they makepossible the provision of a latch for door 70 permitting opening of thedoor only after a processing period of predetermined duration haselapsed.

The apparatus of the camera of the invention, as previously noted, isdesigned to be automatic in its operation and to be powered preferablyby an electric motor. A suitable drive mechanism is illustrated in FIG.6 as comprising an electric motor 72 for driving a sprocket 74 meshedwith a chain 76 for transmitting motive power from the motor through asprocket 78 coupled by a single revolution clutch 80 to first feed roll48, a sprocket 82 coupled through a single revolution clutch 84 tosecond feed roll 60 and sprockets 86 and 88 coupled, respectively, withdrive rolls 52 and 54. An idler sprocket 90 is provided for insuringengagement of driving chain 76 with sprocket 88 and guiding the drivechain around sprocket 74. Solenoids 92 and 94 are provided foroperating, respectively, single revolution clutches 80 and 84, and arotary solenoid 96 having an armature with an opening for engaging shaft46, is provided for pivoting cover member 42 between its open and closedposition. For the sake of compactness, motor 72 is mounted beneathsupport plate 28 and the control means, designated 98, is mountedbeneath chamber 68, both in the lower part of the housing on oppositesides of container 36.

Control means 98 are illustrated in FIG. 7 in a condition prior tocommencement of an exposure and processing cycle and comprise a timermotor 100 for rotating a plurality of timing cams which control switchesto regulate the exposure and processing cycles of the apparatus.

The shutter of the camera may be operated by a solenoid 102 coupledacross the power supply through a starting switch shown as a push button104 which may be manually depressed momentarily to make an exposure andinitiate an exposure and processing cycle of the apparatus. Timer motoris coupled across the power supply through starter switch 104 andthrough a switch 106 in parallel with starter switch 104. Switch 106 isopen at the commencement of an exposure and processing cycle and iscontrolled by a cam 108 mounted on the shaft of motor 100 which closesswitch 106 immediately as the timer motor starts to rotate in responseto closing of starter switch 104 and keeps the timer motor energizedthereafter even through starter 104 is opened. The processing cycle isterminated when cam 108 allows switch 106 to reopen terminating the howof current to the timer motor. The shutter may be of the type which isrequired to be reset following release and the control means include asolenoid 110 coupled to the power supply through a switch 112 controlledby cam 114 for setting the shutter immediately following its releaseduring the early portion of the operation of the timer motor. Drivemotor 72 is connected to the power supply through a switch 116 operatedby a cam 118 which energizes the drive motor immediately after theexposure is made and de-energizes the motor before the timing motor isde-energized. The processing cycle is initiated by solenoid 92 which iscoupled to the power supply through a switch 120 controlled by a cam 122which closes the switch shortly after drive motor 72 commences torotate. At the end of a predetermined period following energization ofsolenoid 92 and the commencement of the processing cycle, solenoid 94controlled through a switch 124 by a cam 126 is energized to rotate feedroll 60 and thereby move an imagereceiving sheet into engagement with animage-recording sheet in the container and advance both sheets into thenip of drive rolls 54 and 56. The interval during which animage-recording sheet is permitted to remain in container 36 in theliquid therein can be very easily varied by changing the angularposition of cam 126 relative to cam 122, both of which are coaxiallymounted on the shaft of the timer motor. Rotary solenoid 96 iscontrolled by a switch 128 and cam 130 which energizes the rotarysolenoid to open cover member 42 prior to energization of solenoid 92and close the cover member so as to bring it into engagement with animage-recording sheet in the container prior to energization of solenoid94. In this manner, the container cover is only open for a relativelyshort period during each processing cycle and functions as a squeegeeduring withdrawal of an image-recording sheet from the container. Ifdesired, still another solenoid, switch and cam may be provided forcontrolling the operation of a latch coupled with door 70 for preventingopening of the door or otherwise giving a signal at the end of apredetermined period following advancement of the sandwich comprisingthe image-recording and image-receiving sheets into chamber 68.

It is desirable to maintain the liquid in container 36 at apredetermined level to insure imbibition of the liquid into the desiredarea of the image-recording sheet and for this purpose there may beprovided a reservoir (not shown) of the processing liquid mounted abovethe level of the liquid within container 36 and coupled therewith by asuitable conduit and valve of a type well known in the art, forautomatically maintaining the level of the liquid within the container.

Various modifications and additions to the apparatus may be desirableand include, for example, mounting the stack of image-receiving sheetsbeneath rather than above feed roll 60 so that the uppermostimage-receiving sheet is the one which is moved toward the nip of thesecond and third drive rolls. When the camera is to be employed as partof an identification system, e.g., to provide a photograph constitutinga motor vehicle operators license, in which it is desirable tosimultaneously photo graph both a person and printed information, thecamera may include means for illuminating the printed information to beincluded in the photograph and optical means for forming an image of theprinted information on the foremost image-recording sheet positioned forexposure within cassette 12. Additionally, it may be desirable to makevarious components of the apparatus, particularly the drive rolls andcontainer 36, readily removable for cleaning and/or replenishment of theprocessing liquid.

In a typical arrangement, the first, second and third drive rolls andspring 58 may be mounted as a unit on a suitable chassis which may bereadily removed from the apparatus and includes means for coupling rolls52 and 54 with, respectively, sprockets 86 and 88.

The operation of the apparatus is quite simple requiring only that theoperator properly aim the camera at the subject to be photographed andmomentarily close starter switch 104. As the starter switch is closed anexposure is made and timer motor 100 commences to operate, rotatingcams, 108, 114, 118, 122, 126 and 130. During the initial portion of therotation of the cams, switch 106 closes to continue the operation of thetimer motor and switch 116 closes to energize the drive motor and rotatedrive rolls 52, 54 and 56. Shortly after commencement of rotation ofdrive motor 72 switch 128 closes energizing the rotary solenoid to openthe container closure and then switch 120 closes energizing solenoid 92engaging single revolution clutch 80 causing rotation of feed roll 48which feeds the exposed image-recording sheet into the nip of driverolls 52 and 54 which feed the imagerecording sheet into container 36.Switch 128 then opens and at the end of a predetermined interval afterclosing of switch 120, switch 124 is closed energizing solenoid 94 todrive feed roll 60 and advance an image-receiving sheet into engagementwith the image-recording sheet projecting from container 36 and advanceboth sheets into the nip of second and third drive rolls 54 and 56 whichpress the two sheets into superposition to form a sandwich and advancethe sandwich into chamber 68. At the end of a predetermined intervalfollowing energization of solenoid 94, switches 116 and 106 open inorder to de-energize the drive and timing motors and leave the apparatusin readiness for another exposure and processing cycle. At some timeduring the initial portion of the processing cycle, solenoid 110 isactuated to reset the shutter.

Another form of camera embodying the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8of the drawings as comprising many of the same basic components as theapparatus shown in FIGURE 1, including a lens and shutter mechanism 10,film pack or cassette 12 for holding a plurality of imagerecordingsheets 14, a first feed roll 48 for advancing sheets 14 downwardly fromexposure position, and a housing generally designated 134, for mountingand enclosing the components of the apparatus. Image-receiving sheets 26are mounted in stacked relation beneath and to the side (rear) of theimage-recording sheets with the surfaces of the image-receiving sheetsadapted to be superposed with the image-recording sheets facingdownwardly away from the stack of image-recording sheets. Theimagereceiving sheets are shown as mounted in a container or box 136including a spring 138 and pressure plate 140 for supporting theimage-receiving sheets against a second feed roll 60, which may berotated for advancing the 'uppermost image-receiving sheet (to the leftviewing FIG.

8) across the path of movement of the image-recording sheets.

Many of the distinctions between the cameras of FIGS. 1 and 8 are to beseen in the liquid treatment station, particularly the container ofprocessing liquid and the manner in which the image-recording sheets areadvanced into, through and from the liquid to impregnate the sheets withthe liquid, and the means for performing these functions. In theapparatus of FIG. 8, the image-recording sheets are advanced in a singledirection along a U-shaped path into, through and from the processingliquid at a substantially constant predetermined rate such that everyportion of each sheet remains in the liquid for substantially the samelength of time and, accordingly, absorbs the same amount of liquid, andformation of image-forming substances in each portion advances to thesame predetermined extent prior to superposition of the imagerecordingsheet with an image-receiving sheet. The processing liquid, designated142, is provided in an open container 144 having guide tracks 146 forguiding each sheet along a U-shaped path downwardly adjacent one side ofthe container across the bottom thereof and upwardly adjacent theopposite side of the container. The container is provided with a closure148 preferably formed of a resilient, flexible material, for example, anelastomer or a polymer such as polyethylene and polypropylene; and isformed with a pair of V-shaped passages 150 and 152 through which theimage-recording sheets are, respectively, introduced and withdrawn. Thesides of each of passages 150 and 152 converge to a slit that isnormally closed and function to guide the image-recording sheets betweenthe sides of the normally closed slits. Passage 150 constitutes anentrance or ingress passage with the sides thereof converging inwardlyand passage 152 constitutes an exit or egress passage with the sidesthereof converging outwardly. The sides of passage 152 also function asa squeegee for engaging and removing liquid from the surfaces of a sheetas the sheet is withdrawn from the container through passage 152.

The apparatus includes a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls 154 and 156mounted above container 144 between passage 150 and first feed roll 48in position to engage the leading edge portion of a sheet 14 advanceddownwardly from container 12 by feed roll 48 following exposure of theimage-recording sheet. Feed rolls 154 and 156 are preferably rotatedcontinuously during a processing cycle of the apparatus at a speedcalculated to advance a sheet 14 into and through the container at thedesired predetermined rate. The rotational axes of feed rolls 154 and156 are positioned so as to feed a sheet 14 into and between theconvergent sides of passage 150 whereupon the sheet is guided along aU-shaped path through the processing liquid by guide tracks 146 whichengage the surface of sheet 14 opposite the photosensitive layerthereon.

A pair of juxtaposed pressure rolls 158 and 160 are provided abovecontainer 144 to one side of passage 152 and the length of the path ofmovement of each sheet 14 from feed rolls 154 and 156 through container144 is so related to the length of the image-recording sheet that thelatter is moved from engagement with the feed rolls when the leading endportion of the sheet has been advanced from the container throughopening 152 to a position (shown in broken lines) adjacent and to oneside of pressure rolls 158 and 160 with the leading edge of sheet 14extending past the nip of the pressure rolls. When sheet 14 reaches thisposition, movement thereof is discontinued since the motive force forthe sheet is applied by drive rolls 154 and 156 which, at this point, nolonger engage the sheet. During the terminal portion (at least) ofmovement of sheet 14 by drive rolls 154 and 156, feed roll 60 is rotatedto advance an image-receiving sheet 26 from container 136 across thepath of downward movement of sheet 14 toward the nip of pressure rolls158 and 160. Rotation of roll 60 is preferably timed so that the leadingedge of sheet 26 engages the leading end portion of sheet 14 :atapproximately the same instant movement of sheet 14 is discontinued. Thecircumference of the cylindrical, peripheral portion of feed roll 60 isat least equal to the distance between the leading edge of sheet 26positioned in container 136 and the nip of pressure rolls 158 and 160 sothat sheet 26 deflects sheet 14 from its path of movement into the nipof the pressure rolls immediately as movement of sheet 14 by feed rolls154 and 156 is discontinued.

Pressure rolls 158 and 160 are rotated continuously during and after atleast the terminal portion of movement of sheet 14 through and from thecontainer, so that movement of sheet 14 is recommenced by pressure rolls158 and 160 immediately as movement of the sheet by feed rolls 154 and156 is discontinued. Pressure rolls 158 and 160 are constructed andoperated at a speed calculated to withdraw sheet 14 from container 144at the same rate the sheet is fed into the container by feed rolls 154and 156 so that movement of sheet 14 into, through and from thecontainer is effected at a substantially constant predetermined speedand is substantially continuous and without interruption. It should benoted that during the advancement of the photosensitive sheet fromexposure position to a position adjacent pressure rolls 158 and 160 byfeed rolls 48 and 154 and 156, the direction in which the sheet faces isreversed and the sheet is superposed with the side of a second sheetinitially facing away from the photosensitive sheet. The imagereceivingsheets are advanced from container 136 along a path toward the pressurerolls converging at an angle of at least 90 with respect to the path ofmovement of the image-recording sheets from the container of processingliquid. It may be desirable to vary the initial positions of theimage-receiving sheets and the container 136 in which they are held,from the position shown, for example, by including the container withthe leading ends of the sheets disposed lower than the trailing ends ofthe sheets.

Other modifications of the apparatus are possible and are considered tofall within the scope of the invention. These include the provision ofmeans for guiding sheets 14 from feed roll 48 into the nip of feed rolls154 and 156 and guiding sheets 26 from feed roll 60 toward the nip ofpressure rolls 158 and 160. The camera shown in FIG. 8 may be operatedmanually or it may include a suitably powered drive and controlmechanism for rotating the feed and pressure rolls and coordinating theoperations of the feed rolls to provide for the desired processingcycle. The duration of the period during which each portion of theimage-recording sheet is immersed in the processing liquid can be variedby changing the rates of rotation of feed rolls 154 and 156 and pressurerolls 158 and 160, and the interval between actuation of feed roll 48 toadvance an image-recording sheet into the nip of feed rolls 154 and 156and the actuation of feed roll 60 to advance an image-receiving sheetinto engagement with photosensitive sheet 14 and pressure rolls 158 and160. By varying the relationship between the speeds of feed rolls 154and 156 and the time of actuation of feed roll 60, it is possible toalter the positions of the sheets relative to one another duringmovement of the sheets in superposition between pressure rolls 158 and160. The relative positions of the sheets also may be varied by changingthe length of the path of movement of sheet 14 and/ or the position ofpressure rolls 158 and 160 relative thereto.

The embodiment of the camera shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is constructed toprovide for exposure of a much greater area of the image-recordingsheets and can be generally smaller and more compact than theembodiments described heretofore. This camera is designed to employafilm assemblage including container 12 of substantially the sameconstruction as previously described, but containing both theimage-recording sheets 14 and image-receiving sheets 26 arranged instacked relation in alternating order. By providing both sheets of eachpair in the same container, the means for holding a second container asWell as the means for feeding the sheets therefrom can be eliminatedthereby permitting a reduction in size, cost, and complexity of thecamera.

The image-recording and image-receiving sheets are fed from container 12alternately by a single, generally cylindrical, feed roll 162 locatedout of (beneath) the path of light from the lens of assembly 12 in orderto provide for exposure of the maximum possible area of theimage-recording sheets, that is, substantially the entire area of eachimage-recording sheet. Container 12 is mounted for movement between afirst or exposure position shown in FIG. 9, at which feed roll 162 islocated out of the path of light between the lens and the lower(leading) edge portion of the forwardmost image-recording sheet so thatthe feed roll does not interpose its bulk and prevent exposure of theend portion; and a second or feeding position, shown in FIG. 10, atwhich the container is displaced downwardly from the exposure positionand feed roll 162 is juxtaposed with the lower or leading end portion ofthe sheets Within the container. A cam 164 and follower 166 are providedmounted on the container (or on means for holding the container) formoving the container upwardly and downwardly between the positionsshown. Feed roll 162 is mounted for movement toward and away from thecontainer between an inoperative position, shown in FIG. 9, at which theroll is spaced from engagement with the container to permit movement ofthe container and an operative position, shown in FIG. 10, at which thefeed roll extends into the container into engagement with the lower endportion of the forwardmost sheet.

In the operation of the camera shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, container 12 isdisplaced upwardly to exposure position, the forwardmost image-recordingsheet 14 is exposed, the container is displaced downwardly, and roll 162is moved into engagement with the exposed imagerecording sheet to feedthe leading end portion of the image-recording sheet downwardly into thenip of rolls 154 and 156. The camera includes a curved guide plate 168pivotally mounted beneath the container for guiding the image-receivingsheets 26 from the container toward the nip of rolls 158 and 160, andfor pivoting guide plate 168 from the position shown in FIG. 9 at whichthe guide plate located forward and out of the path of movement of thesheets from the container permitting the image-recording sheets to befed from the container into the nip of rolls 154 and 156; and theposition shown in FIG. 10 at which the guide plate extends into and tothe rear of the path of movement of the sheets from the container forguiding the image-receiving sheets into the nip of rolls 158 and 160. Asuitable cam mechanism (not shown) may be provided for pivoting theupper portion of guide plate 168 into its forward position duringmovement of an image-recording sheet from the container and to itsrearmost position for engaging an image-receiving sheet during movementof the latter from the container. The proper timing of the processingoperation, that is, movement of the image-recording and image-receivingsheets, in this embodiment of the camera is achieved by controlling theinterval between rotations of roll 162 to advance first animage-recording sheet and then an imagereceiving sheet.

The camera also includes means for insuring retention of all but thefirst or forwardmost sheet in the container during withdrawal movementof the forwardmost sheet. These means, shown in FIG. 11, include a pad170 of a resilient material having a high work efliciency of friction,e.g., polyurethane foam, mounted on a resilient arm 172 for movementinto engagement with the edge portions of sheets 14 and 26 in container12. The camera preferably includes two pads and the opposite side wallsof container 12 are provided with openings 174 into which pads 170project. Cams 174 are provided for urging pads 170 into engagement withthe sheets during movement of the forwardmost sheet from the containerwhile permitting the sheets to be displaced forwardly within thecontainer under the bias of spring 16. The operation of cams 174 is, ofcourse, synchronized with the rotation of feed roll 162 so that the padsengage the sheets during rotation of the feed roll.

Another and very effective means for retaining the sheets withincontainer 12 is illustrated in FIG. 12 and includes the provision ofvery small notches in an edge of the sheets adapted to be engaged by aknife edge projection 176 on a side wall of the container extending fromfront to back thereof. The notches in the sheets are so small as to gounnoticed except for the most critical inspection, and retain the sheetswith a force which may be overcome by the frictional engagement betweenthe forwardmost sheet and feed roll 162, While permitting the sheetsfreedom to move forwardly in the container.

The invention contemplates further modifications to the apparatus andthe incorporation of additional structural features contributing toimproved and automatic operation. These include, for example, meanswithin the container of processing liquid for controlling thetemperature thereof to produce optimum results. Means sensitive to theambient temperature and/or the temperature of the processing liquid maybe provided for automatically varying the length of the period ofimbibition of the image-recording sheets in the processing liquid and/orsignalling to the operator that the period during which the sheets arerequired to remain in superposition has elapsed and the sheets may beseparated.

Since certain changes may be made in the above process and apparatuswithout departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Photographic apparatus for exposing a photosensitive sheet andtreating the exposed photosensitive sheet with a liquid in conjunctionwith a second sheet, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

means for supporting a photosenstive sheet in position for exposure;means for exposing said photosensitive sheet; means providing a liquidtreating station in which said photosensitive sheet is contacted with aliquid;

first sheet advancing means for engaging and moving said photosensitivesheet along a first path into said liquid treating station to a positionat which said sheet is disengaged from said first sheet advancing meansand an end portion of said photosensitive sheet extends from saidstation;

second sheet advancing means for engaging said end portion and an endportion of a second sheet, withdrawing said photosensitive sheet fromsaid liquid treating station and moving said sheets in superposition;

said liquid treating station including means for locating saidphotosensitive sheet with said end portion thereof extending from saidliquid treating station in a direction to one side of said second sheetadvancing means and with no portion of said photosensitive sheet inengagement with said first or second sheet advancing means; and

means for moving said second sheet along a second path outside of saidliquid treating station toward and into engagement with photosensitivesheet to deflect said end portion from said first path into engagementwith said second sheet advancing means.

2. Photographic apparatus for exposing a photosensitive sheet andtreating the exposed photosensitive sheet with a liquid in conjunctionwith a second sheet, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

means for supporting a photosensitive sheet in position for exposure,constructed for holding a plurality of said photosensitive sheets instacked relation with an end sheet of the stack located in position forexposure and including means for retaining all but said end sheetstationary during movement of said end sheet from exposure position insaid stack;

first sheet advancing means for engaging and moving said photosensitivesheet along a first path into said liquid treating station to a positionat which an end portion of said photosensitive sheet projects from saidstation;

second sheet advancing means for engaging said end portion and an endportion of the other of said sheet, withdrawing said photosensitivesheet from said liquid treating station and moving said sheets insuperposition; and

means for moving said other sheet along a second path apart from saidliquid treating station toward and into engagement with said end portionof said photosensitive sheet to deflect said end portion from said firstpath into engagement with said second sheet advancing means.

3. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquidtreating station includes a container for holding a processing liquidand said one sheet with the major portion thereof immersed in saidliquid and said end portion of said one sheet extending from saidcontainer at a location spaced from the point of entry by a distancesubstantially less than the length of said one sheet.

4. Photographic processing apparatus for treating an exposedphotosensitive sheet with a liquid in conjunction with a second sheetsuperposed with said photosensitive sheet, said apparatus comprising, incombination:

means providing a liquid treating station in which a sheet is contactedwith a liquid; first sheet advancing means for moving one of saidphotosensitive and second sheets along a first path into said liquidtreating station to a position at which said one sheet is disengagedfrom said first sheet advancing means and an end portion of said onesheet extends from said station; second sheet advancing means forengaging said end portion and an end portion of the other of saidsheets, withdrawing said one sheet from said liquid treating station andmoving said sheets in superposition; said liquid treating stationincluding means for locating said one sheet with said end portionthereof extending from said liquid treating station in a direction toone side of said second sheet advancing means and with no portion ofsaid one sheet in engagement with said first or said second sheetadvancing means; and

means for moving said other sheet along a second path outside of saidliquid treating station toward and into engagement with said end portionof said one sheet to deflect the latter from said first path toward andinto engagement with said second sheet advancing means.

5. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 4 including means forlocating a photosensitive sheet in position for exposure and whereinsaid first sheet advancing means include means for engaging and movingsaid photosensitive sheet from exposure position along said first pathinto said liquid treating station.

6. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said meansincluding in said liquid treating station 10- cate said one sheet withsaid end section extending at an angle of at least with respect to saidsecond path in the vicinity of said second sheet advancing means.

7. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said secondsheet advancing means include a pair of juxtaposed rolls for engagingsaid sheets therebetween and pressing said sheets together, and saidliquid treating station includes means for guiding said one sheet into aposition within said liquid treating station in which said end portionof said one sheet extends therefrom in a direction to one side of thenip of said juxtaposed rolls.

8. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said one sheetadvancing means are constructed for moving said one sheet along saidfirst path with said end portion foremost into, through and from saidliquid treating station at a substantially constant, predetermined rate.

'9. Photographic processing apparatus for treating an exposedphotosensitive sheet with -a liquid in conjunction with a second sheetsuperposed with said photosensitive sheet, said apparatus comprising, incombination:

means providing a liquid treating station in which a sheet is contactedwith a liquid;

first sheet advancing means for moving one of said sheets along a firstpath into said liquid treating station to a position at which an endportion of said one sheet projects from said station;

second sheet advancing means for engaging said end portion and an endportion of the other of said sheets, withdrawing said one sheet fromsaid liquid treating station and moving said sheets in superposition;

means for moving said other sheet along a second path apart from saidliquid treating station toward and into engagement with said end portionof said one sheet to deflect said end portion from said first path intoengagement with said second sheet advancing means; and

means for commencing movement of said other sheet along said second pathinto engagement with said one sheet at the end of a-predeterminedinterval following commencement of movement of said one sheet into saidliquid treating station.

10. Photographic processing apparatus for treating an exposedphotosensitive sheet with a liquid in conjunction with a second sheetsuperposed with said photosensitive sheet, said apparatus comprising, incombination:

means providing a liquid treating station in which a sheet is contactedwith a liquid;

first sheet advancing means for moving one of said sheets along a firstpath into said liquid treating station to a position at which an endportion of said one sheet projects from said station; second sheetadvancing means for engaging said end portion and an end portion of theother of said sheets, withdrawing said one sheet from said liquidtreating station and moving said sheets in superposition;

means for moving said other sheet along a second path apart from saidliquid treating station toward and into engagement with said end portionof said one sheet to deflect said end portion from said first path intoengagement with said second sheet advancing means; and

means for varying the length of the interval between commencement ofmovement of said one sheet and said other sheet.

11. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said firstsheet advancing means are operative to move said one sheet along saidfirst path in a first direction into said liquid treating station to aposition at which said one sheet remains until withdrawn by said secondsheet advancing means, and said second advancing means are operative toengage and advance said one sheet in the opposite direction from saidstation.

12. Photographic processing apparatus for treating an exposedphotosensitive sheet with a liquid in conjunction with a second sheetsuperposed with said sensitive sheet, said apparatus comprising, incombination:

holding means for supporting said photosensitive sheet during exposurethereof;

means providing a liquid treating station for contacting saidphotosensitive sheet with a liquid;

first sheet advancing means for moving said photosensitive sheet along afirst path into said liquid treating station to a position at which anend portion of said photosensitive sheet projects from said station,said first sheet advancing means including a member for engaging an endsection of said photosensitive sheet supported by said holding means tomove said photosensitive sheet from said holding means;

means for moving said holding means between a first position at whichsaid photosensitive sheet is located in position for exposure and asecond position at which said end section of said photosensitive sheetis juxtaposed with said member for engagement thereby;

second sheet advancing means for engaging said end portion and an endportion of a second sheet, withdrawing said photosensitive sheet fromsaid liquid treating station and moving said sheets in superposition;and

means for moving said second sheet along a second path outside of saidliquid treating station toward and into an engagement with said endportion of said second sheet to deflect said end portion from said firstpath into engagement with said second sheet advancing means.

13. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 12 including means formoving said member toward and into engagement with said photosensitivesheet when said holding means is in said second position and moving saidmember from engagement with said photosensitive sheet to permit movementof said holding means into said first position.

14. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said holdingmeans include means for holding said second sheet in superposed relationwith said photosensitive sheet, and first advancing means include guidemeans for guiding said photosensitive sheet from a position in saidholding means along said first path and guiding said second sheet fromsubstantially the same position in said holding means along said secondpath.

15. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said liquidtreating station includes a container for holding a processing liquidwith a major portion of said one sheet immersed in said liquid and saidend portion of said one sheet extending from said container at alocation spaced from the point of entry by a distance substantially lessthan the length of said one sheet.

16. Photographic processing apparatus for treating an exposedphotosensitive sheet with a liquid in conjunction with a second sheetsuperposed with said photosensitive sheet, said apparatus comprising, incombination;

means providing a liquid treating station in which a sheet is contactedwith a liquid; first sheet advancing means for moving one of saidphotosensitive and second sheets in a first direction along a first pathinto said liquid treating station;

means for holding the other of said sheets in a stationary positionduring at least a portion of said movement of said first sheet; and

second sheet advancing means for engaging and moving said one sheet fromsaid liquid treating station in superposition with said other sheet;

said first sheet advancing means including means for advancing saidother sheet along a portion of said first path and guide means fordiverting said other sheet from said first path outside of said liquidtreating station toward said second sheet advancing means along a secondpath intersecting said first path adjacent said second sheet advancingmeans.

17. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said liquidtreating station includes means for locating said one sheet with an endportion extending from said liquid treating station and said guide meansdirect said other sheet into engagement with said end portion of saidone sheet extending from said liquid treating station to move said endportion into engagement with said second sheet advancing means.

18. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said secondadvancing means comprise a pair of rolls mounted in juxtaposition withthe nip of said rolls located in said second path adjacent and to oneside of said first path.

19. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said liquidtreating station includes a container for holding processing liquid andsaid one sheet with the major portion thereof immersed in said liquid,including means for operating said first and second sheet advancementmeans to move said one sheet into and from said container at a rate suchthat the total time required for introductory and withdrawal movement ofsaid one sheet .is small compared with the length of time said majorportion of said one sheet is immersed within said liquid. .20.Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 19 including closure meansfor said container comprising 'squeegees and means for retaining saidclosure means in a closed positiommoving said closure means to an openposition during movement of said one sheet into said container, andmoving'said squeegees into engagement with said-one sheet immediatelyfollowing introductory movement of said one sheet'into said container.

-' means providing a liquid treating station in which a sheet iscontacted with a liquid;

first sheet advancingmeans for moving one of said sheets in afirstdirection along a first path into said liquid treating station;

means for holding said other sheet in a stationary position during atleast aportion of such movement of said first sheet;

second sheet advancing means for engaging and moving said one sheet in asecond direction, along a second path, which includes a part of saidfirst path, out of said liquid treating station and moving said othersheet in superposition with said one sheet along said second path; and

means for controlling the interval between commencement of movement ofsaid one sheet into said liquid treating station and commencement ofmovement of said other sheet from said stationary position intoengagement with said end portion.

22. In a process of producing a photographic image wherein a first sheetcontaining a photosensitive material as a layer thereof is exposed andsubjected to treatment with a liquid processing composition inconjunction with a second sheet to form a transfer image by diffusion,the steps of:

moving said first sheet into a body of said liquid processingcomposition to provide for absorption of said liquid into said layer ofphotosensitive material and to initiate formation of image-formingsubstances; continuing the movement of said first sheet into said bodyof liquid until at least the major portion of the exposed area of saidlayer of photosensitive material has been immersed in and subjected totreatment by said liquid and an end portion of said first sheet extendsfrom said body of liquid along.

a first path and thereupon discontinuing the movement of said firstsheet;

moving said second sheet from an initial position above and adjacentsaid body of liquid with an edge portion foremost outside of said bodyof liquid along a second path into engagement with said end portion ofsaid first sheet to deflect the latter from said first path along athird path, said second sheet being moved into engagement with saidfirst sheet to deflect latter immediately as movement of said firstsheet is discontinued;

immediately upon deflection of said first sheet from said first path,moving said first sheet along said third path to withdraw said firstsheet from said body of liquid;

during with drawal movement of said first sheet from said body of liquidsuperposing said second sheet with said first sheet so that said liquidabsorbed by said photosensitive layer has access to the adjacent surfaceof said second sheet; and

coordinating the rates of movement of said first sheet into and fromsaid body of liquid and the timing of movement of said edge portion ofsaid second sheet into engagement with said end portion of said firstsheet so that every portion of said exposed area 18 of said layer ofphotosensitive material is immersed in said liquid for substantially thesame predetermined period and absorbs substantially the same quantity ofsaid liquid.

23. In a process of producing a photographic image wherein a first sheetincluding a photosensitive material as a layer thereof is exposed andsubjected to treatment with a'liquid processing composition inconjunction with a second sheet to form a transfer image by diffusion,the steps of:

moving said firstsheet into a body of said liquidprocessing compositionto provide for absorption of said liquid into said layer ofphotosensitive material and to initiate formation of image-formingsubstances; continuing the movement of said first sheet into said bodyof liquid until at least the major portion of the exposed area of saidlayer of photosensitive material has been immersed iniand subjected totreatment by said liquid and an end portion of said first sheet projeetsfrom saidbody of liquid adjacent means for-engagingand moving saidsheets together and there- 7 upon discontinuing the movement of saidfirst sheet;

moving said second sheet from an initial position above and adjacentsaid body of liquid with an edge portion foremost outside of said bodyof liquid toward and into engagement with said end portion of said firstsheet to move said first sheet into engagement with said means, saidsecond sheet being moved into engagement with said first sheet to movethe latter into engagement with said means immediately as movement ofsaid first sheet is discontinued;

thereafter by said means, moving said first sheet together with saidsecond sheet to withdraw said first sheet from said body of liquid;during withdrawal movement of said first sheets, superposing said firstsheet with said second sheet so that said liquid absorbed by saidphotosensitive layer has access to the adjacent surface of said secondsheet; and coordinating the rates of movement of said first sheet intoand from said body of liquid and the timing of movement of said edgeportion of said second sheet into engagement with said end portion ofsaid first sheet so that every portion of said exposed area of saidlayer of photosensitive material is immersed in said liquid forsubstantially the same predetermined time and absorbs substantially thesame quantity of said liquid. 24. In a process of producing aphotographic image wherein a first sheet including a photosensitivematerial as a layer thereof is exposed and subjected to treatment with aliquid processing composition in conjunction with a second sheet to forma transfer image by diffusion, the steps of:

moving said first sheet into a body of said liquid processingcomposition to provide for absorption of said liquid into said layer ofphotosensitive material and to initiate formation of image-formingsubstances;

continuing the movement of said first sheet into said body of liquiduntil at least the major portion of the exposed area of said layer ofphotosensitive material has been immersed in and subjected to treatmentby said liquid and an end portion of said first sheet projects from saidbody of liquid adjacent means for engaging and moving said sheetstogether;

moving said second sheet from said position adjacent said body of liquidwith an edge portion foremost to ward and into engagement with said endportion of said first sheet to move said first sheet into engagementwith said means;

thereafter by said means, moving said first sheet together with saidsecond sheet to withdraw said first sheet from said body of liquid atthe same rate as during introduction;

during withdrawal movement of said first sheets, superposing said firstsheet with saidsecondsheet so that said liquid absorbed by saidphotosensitive layer has access to the adjacent surface of said secondsheet; and

coordinating the rates of movement. of said first sheet into and fromsaid body of liquid and the timing of movement of said edge portion ofsaid second sheet into engagement with said end portion of said. firstsheet so that every. portion of said exposed area of said layer ofphotosensitive material is immersed in said liquid. for substantiallythesamepredetermined time and absorbs substantially the same quantity ofsaid liquid;

said. end portion of said first sheet being formed with an opening forreceiving saidedge portion of said 1 second sheet, said edge-portion ofsaid second sheet 1 being moved toward said means through saidopeninginto engagement with said means to predeterminedly orient saidsheetswith respect to one another during movement of said sheets. intosuperposition. v

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said end portion of said first sheetis moved along a first path into a position adjacent said means andextending to one side thereof and said second sheet is moved toward saidmeans along a second path converging with said first path intoengagement with said end portion adjacent said means to deflect saidfirst sheet from said first path into engagement with said means.

26 The method of claim 24 wherein said first sheet is moved rapidly intosaid container until substantially said entire exposed area is immersedin said liquid whereupon movement of said first sheet is discontinued:

the period during which said first sheet remains immersed in said liquidis' terminated-by 'moving said second sheet into engagement with saidend portion of said first sheet to move said first sheetinto engagementwith said means; saidv first sheet is withdrawn by said" means rapidlyfrom said liquid in a direction substantially opposite tolthedirectionof introductory movement; and said first sheet is moved intoand withdrawnfromsaid liquid at rates such that the total time requiredfor introduction-and Withdrawal is" small compared to the length of timeduring which said: first sheet is immersedin'said liquid; 1 27.: .Themethod of claim:24-,Wherein said first sheet is movedtwithin said liquidin the-same direction and-at substantially the. samemrate duringintroduction into' and Withdrawal from said liquid.- vv References Citedj U T D AT P TENTS] 2,751,814 6/1956 Limberger s9 3,216,342 11/1965 M ren; ;;,;;9s 94 FOREIGN PATENTS 853,262 10/1952 Germany.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. GARY M. HOFFMAN, Assistant Examiner.

